Jason McGrath wrote:
To bring the question of gubernatorial candidates back to Mpls issues:
In an MPR interview the day after the municipal elections, Mayor
Rybak and Mayor-elect Coleman both voiced strong support for the
proposed University Ave. corridor light rail line, and RT went further
in saying that he didn't just want to see a new line every decade or
so but a comprehensive investment in a whole network (like 3
additional lines instead of one) at once. He pointed out that this
would benefit the whole region and should be funded in part by a
multi-county metro area sales tax, presumably in addition to whatever
state and federal funds can be mustered.
I was extremely heartened to hear this from R.T. It seems that he gets
it. A metro sales tax is how most other regions fund their transit
systems. It is a very stable budget source and will finally get Metro
Transit off the starvation diet it's currently on.
Now we need to get Chris Coleman to make a similar statement.
It seems obvious that a
piecemeal approach of a line every decade or two is not going to solve
the transit problems of the growing Twin Cities metro area in the 21st
century, and I for one will be paying close attention to which
gubernatorial candidates (and those for the state and national
legislatures) make this kind of comprehensive commitment to a regional
light/commuter rail system a priority.
Ditto. I believe this is one of the top issues that all metro
residents, city or suburb, should pay attention to. If people can't
get to jobs, the area dies. If communities can't connect, they die.
If we continue to isolate ourselves, we die.
In fact, if the proposed Twins
stadium at the hub of present and future rail lines helps to increase
statewide support for investment in mass rail transit, then the
stadium funding itself becomes more palatable.
YES! I've been saying this from day one. The Twins proposal is good
precisely because it sits on top of a hub that will connect at least
five major transit hubs. Build the stadium and you pretty much have
to build the transit. That's also why I really liked Peter M.'s idea
of taking the extra sales tax revenue and dedicating at least part of
it to transit.
I have yet to hear the
gubernatorial candidates weigh in on any of these issues (though maybe
they have and the media hasn't covered it).
I haven't either but my sense is that both Lourey and Steve Kelly will
be good champions for transit. I know people who have worked with Steve
on education and they say he really gets the importance of investment in
the city. He represents an inner suburb that has been and is being
affected by urban rot. He gets it.
I'm not as familiar with Lourey but I really like what I've heard so
far.
David Greene
The Wedge
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